Smart carafe

ABSTRACT

A beverage vessel includes:
         a beverage container in which a beverage may be stored said beverage container having an upper opening by which beverage may be poured in and poured out of the beverage container and a wall extending from the opening to the bottom of the beverage container;   a closure element adapted to be positioned in the upper opening of the beverage container;   a light distribution element arranged at the closure element; and   a light emitter positioned such that the light emitted by the light emitter passes at least a part of the volume of the beverage container before entering the light distribution element;   wherein said closure element comprises a locking mechanism, said locking mechanism comprising at least three locking arms extending in radial direction of the beverage vessel to the beverage container, wherein   each arm of the locking element comprises an elastic portion being elastic in the radial direction of the beverage vessel;   the beverage container comprises at least one concave portion in the wall, said concave portion extending in radial direction of the beverage vessel; and   said arms releasably engage in the concave portion in the wall for releasably locking the closure element to the beverage container.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the benefit of European Patent Application Nos.EP17182881.7, filed Jul. 24, 2017, and EP18183991.1 filed Jul. 17, 2018the entirety of each of which is hereby incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a smart beverage vessel or a smartcarafe for monitoring the water consumption of a user of the beveragevessel and for ensuring that a beverage of reasonable quality isprovided to the user. Further, germ formation can be avoided.

2. Description of the Related Art

Depending on the physical activity of the user a user has to drink acertain amount of water comprising certain types and amounts ofminerals.

Generally, water is consumed by humans increasingly from bottles, sincetab water is not considered to be tasty or is more or less polluted.These circumstances cause negative effects. A big share of the bottlesis plastic bottles. Such plastic bottles emit substances hazardous tohealth. Further, the environment is polluted by plastic bottles.

In the heat of the summer the plastic bottle may get very hot, evenduring delivering the bottle to a customer. Thereby, even moresubstances hazardous to health can be emitted from the plastic to thewater. Plastic is a nutrient medium for bacteria multiplying in the heatin the bottle. Accordingly, the quality of water in the bottle isunknown.

Drinking vessels of the prior art do not monitor quality of the beveragestored in the drinking vessel.

Carafes are used when a group of persons wishes to drink the samebeverage, such as during breakfast, lunch, dinning or during a meeting.

Carafes of the prior art face the problem that portions of a closureelement over which water flows have to be touched by hand. This is notdesired under hygienic considerations.

Further, closure elements of carafes of the prior art comprise plasticsthat may get into contact with the beverage. This is also not desiredunder hygienic considerations.

Further, the quality of the water in the carafe has to be monitored andthe user has to be informed, if the quality of the water in the beveragevessel is too low.

WO 2016/090235 A1 relates to a portable vessel, wherein additiveslocated in containers can be added to water in the vessel. This systemhas the disadvantage that the quality of the water cannot be monitoredand that it is intricate for the user to carry a comparably bulkybeverage vessel with a plurality of containers throughout their workingdays and leisure days.

WO 2016/155538 A1 discloses a vessel that can monitor drinking events.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved beveragevessel that solves the problems of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A beverage vessel according to a first aspect of the present inventioncomprises a beverage container, a closure element, a light distributorelement and a light emitter. In the beverage container beverage may bestored. The beverage container has an upper opening through whichbeverage may be poured in and poured out of the beverage container and awall extending from the opening at the top to the bottom of the beveragecontainer. The beverage container may be rotational symmetric along thevertical axis of the beverage container. The closure element is adaptedto be releasably positioned in the upper opening of the beveragecontainer. The light distribution element is arranged at the closureelement. The light emitter is positioned such that the light emitted bythe light emitter passes at least a part of the volume of the beveragecontainer before entering the light distribution element. The lightdistribution element is adapted to distribute the light entering fromthe light emitter in the periphery of the beverage vessel.

The inventive configuration allows combining design aspects andfunctional aspects. The light emitter may be positioned at a locationclose to a controller and an accumulator. The light distribution elementmay be positioned remote and spaced apart from the light emitter andintegrated into the design of the beverage vessel, such as a smartcarafe, smart bottle or the like. The light emitter may display at leastone information relating to the beverage in the beverage container by anoptical signal. The light distribution element distributes the lightemitted by the light emitter in the periphery of the beverage vessel.Thereby, the user of the beverage vessel or service staff can recognizethat action is required, such as refilling the beverage vessel,replacing the beverage in the beverage vessel.

The light distributor element may have opaque optical properties,scattering optical properties and/or diffracting optical properties forappropriate light distribution around the beverage vessel, such that thelight and the information about the beverage may be recognized by theuser and service staff in the periphery of the beverage vessel.

In one embodiment, the light distribution element may be positioned atopof the closure element.

The closure element may comprise a light guide, a hollow portion or thelike for passing light emitted by the light emitter to the lightdistribution element after it has passed through the beverage containerand/or the beverage in the beverage container.

The light emitter may transmit light in a plurality of different colors.The light emitter may transmit continuous light, flashing light or lightperiodically changing color, e.g. for transmitting information.

In one embodiment the light emitter is positioned at the bottom of thebeverage container. The light may pass through the beverage.

The beverage vessel according to a second aspect may comprise a closureelement comprising a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism comprisesat least three locking arms extending in radial direction of thebeverage container to the beverage container. At least one arm of thelocking element comprises an elastic portion being elastic in the radialdirection of the beverage container.

In one embodiment, the locking element may only be elastic in the radialdirection. However, the locking element may also be elastic in anotherdirection.

The beverage container may comprise at least one concave portion in thewall, wherein the concave portion extends in the radial direction of thebeverage container. The concave portion extends in the radial adirection from the inner to the outer of the beverage container. Theconcave portion forms a recess directed to the middle axis of thebeverage container. The arms releasably engage the concave portion inthe wall for releasably locking the closure element to the beveragecontainer.

The closure element can be pushed by a user into the beverage containerthrough the upper opening. The locking arms are retracted by the outwardtapper of the beverage container next to the opening. In other words,around the opening a portion inclined in the radial direction providingthe outward tapper is provided for conveniently pouring beverage out ofthe beverage container. Below the outward tapper the concave portion isprovided that extends radially from the inner of the beverage containerto the outer of the beverage container.

As soon as the locking arms are pushed downward in the direction of theconcave portion, the locking arms extend radially and engage in theconcave portion, such that the locking mechanism locks the closureelement to the beverage container that closure element cannot be moveddownward or upward.

In one embodiment the locking mechanism can only be moved outward(upward), if the mechanical resistance caused by the locking armsengaging into the concave portion is surmounted. The mechanicalresistance is caused by the locking arms that are pushed radially inwardto the elastic portion of the locking arms. As soon as the locking armshave been pressed inwardly by the boarder or edge of the concaveportion, the locking mechanism and closure element can be moved upwardlyand the locking arms are released as soon as they are in contact withthe inclined portion of the upper tapper at the opening.

The locking arms engage into the concave portion extending radiallyoutward in the container in a snap/fit manner. Operation of suchsnap/fit mechanism is known by the person skilling the art.

In one embodiment the beverage container may comprise a plurality ofconcave portions, such as one concave portion for each locking arm.

In a preferred embodiment the concave portion extends in thecircumferential direction along the wall of the beverage container. Inthe cross section direction the concave portion of the container extendsradially outward. The concave portion may extend around the beveragecontainer.

The locking arm may comprise at the radially outer tip a contact elementelastically accommodated by the booking arm. The contact element maycomprises a round shape at the radially outer portion. The round shapemay include a partial sphere, a sphere, a partial ellipsoid, anellipsoid or the like.

The locking arm may comprise an opening extending in the radiallydirection. The contact element may move into the opening of the lockingarm, if a force is exerted on the contact element, such as by thebeverage container and particularly from the tapered outlet portion andthe concave portion. In the opening of the locking arm an elasticelement can be provided, such as a spring that contacts the contactelement and the inner end of the opening in the locking arm.

In one embodiment the contact element may comprise at its radially outerportion a partial spherical shape. The contact element may comprise inits radially inner portion a rod shaped portion that is surrounded bythe walls of the opening, wherein the rod shaped portion of the contactelement is accommodated movably in the radial direction of the lockingarm within the opening. The rod shaped portion may comprise a circularor rectangular cross-section.

The closure element may comprise a grip element extending from the gripelement in vertical direction of the beverage vessel and/orperpendicular to the locking arms. The grip element extends upward inthe vertical direction of the beverage vessel and does not enter thebeverage vessel, when the locking arms are engaged in the concaveportion. The user can hold the closure element at the grip element anddoes not have to touch any surface of the closure element or thebeverage container that is also contacted by the beverage in thebeverage container. Thereby, a beverage vessel and a closure element canbe provided that can fulfill ambitious hygienic standards.

The closure element may comprise an actuation element movably mounted onthe closure element. The actuation element can be moved in a firstposition, in which the locking arms are movable in the horizontaldirection and in a second position, in which the locking arms are notmovable. The actuation element may be movable in the vertical direction.The actuation element can be the grip element or part of the gripelement.

In one embodiment the light distribution element is arranged at theactuation element and/or grip element. Preferably, the lightdistribution element is arranged at the top of the actuation elementand/or grip element.

The light distribution element may be a partial sphere positioned at thetop of the actuation element.

The beverage vessel may comprise a lid positioned under the grip elementand above the locking mechanism. The lid is movable with respect to thelocking mechanism. Since the lid is mounted on the locking mechanism,the user does not touch the lid when pressing the closure element intothe upper opening of the beverage container. Thereby, high hygienicstandards can be provided.

In one embodiment the lid is mounted to the locking mechanism.

In one embodiment the lid is mounted to the locking mechanism by atleast one rod extending through an opening in the locking arms. The rodmay extend perpendicular to the lid, i.e. in the vertical direction. Theopening in the locking arm extends in the vertical direction.

As soon as the beverage vessel is rotated around the horizontal axis,the lid remains in the horizontal position and opens the closure elementsuch that the beverage can be poured out of the beverage vessel withoutany need of touching a surface that is in contact with the beverage inthe beverage container.

In one embodiment the beverage vessel may comprise a stop means that ismounted to at least one of the rods at a position opposite to the lidand restricts the pivoting angle range of the lid.

In one embodiment the closure element further comprises a counter weightthat is mounted to at least one of the rods at the position opposite tothe lid. The counter weight supports the lid in keeping its essentiallyhorizontal position to the environment of the beverage vessel, if thebeverage vessel is rotated around the horizontal axis for pouringbeverage out of the beverage container. The counter weight may act as astop means.

The light emitter is positioned at the bottom of the beverage containerand the light emitted by the light emitter may pass through the beveragebefore entering in the light distribution element. The light emitter maycomprise a single light source, such as LED, a laser diode or the like.The light emitter may comprise a plurality of light sources, wherein thelight sources emit light with different colors (wavelength).

The closure element of the beverage vessel may further comprise a lightconducting section. The light conducting section may be formed by ahollow portion extending particularly in the grip element.

The beverage vessel may further comprise a rechargeable battery and acontroller located below the beverage container.

The beverage vessel may be a carafe or the like.

The beverage vessel may comprise a first temperature sensor adapted tomeasure the temperature of the beverage in the beverage container. Thefirst temperature sensor may be arranged at the bottom of the beveragecontainer. The beverage vessel may further comprise a fill level sensoradapted to measure the fill level of the beverage in the beveragecontainer. In one embodiment the fill level sensor may be a weightsensor that measures the weight of the beverage container and thebeverage therein. In one embodiment the fill level sensor may be acapacitive sensor formed by a transparent layer around the beveragecontainer. The beverage vessel may have a transmitter for transmittinginformation and a receiver for receiving information. The transmitterand the receiver may implement any near field communication protocol orany other protocol such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, RFID or the like.

The light emitter may be implemented by a light emitting diode, a laserdiode or the like. The beverage vessel may also comprise a controlleradapted to control the first temperature sensor, the fill level sensor,the transmitter, the receiver and/or the light emitter.

In one embodiment the controller may be adapted to determine thetemperature of the beverage in the beverage container and to control thelight emitter depending on the temperature of the beverage in thebeverage container. Thereby, the user may be informed, if thetemperature of the beverage in the beverage container exceeds apredetermined threshold.

In one embodiment the controller may determine the fill level of thebeverage in the beverage container and to control the light emitterdepending on the fill level of the beverage in the beverage container.Thereby, the user of the beverage vessel or a service staff, such asrestaurants staff, hotel staff, nursing staff or the like, may beinformed that the beverage vessel has to be refilled.

In one embodiment the controller may determine the time span, duringwhich the beverage has been in the beverage container. The controllermay control the light emitter depending on the time span during whichthe beverage is in the beverage container. Thereby, the user and/or aservice staff are informed that the beverage in the beverage containerhas to be replaced.

The controller may also be adapted to receive information about theingredients of the beverage in the beverage container and to control thelight emitter depending on the ingredients of the beverage in thebeverage container. The term “ingredients of the beverage” also includesthe type of beverage. Thereby, the user and the service staff areinformed which type of beverage is in the beverage vessel and the usercan drink his preferred beverage and the service staff can refill of thebeverage vessel with the appropriate beverage. The information about theingredients of the beverage may be transmitted by a beverage dispenser.

The controller may be adapted to determine the temperature of thebeverage in the beverage container and to output a signal depending onthe temperature of the beverage in the beverage container. The outputtedsignal may be an audio signal output by a loudspeaker and/or a messagetransmitted by the transmitter. By the message transmitted by thetransmitter service staff, such as restaurants staff, hotel staff,hospital staff or the like can be informed that the beverage in thebeverage vessel has to be replaced.

In one embodiment the controller can determine the fill level of thebeverage in the beverage container and can output a signal depending onthe fill level of the beverage in the vessel. Also in this embodiment,the signal may be an audio signal and/or a message transmitted by thetransmitter to an electronic device associated to service staff, such asrestaurants staff, hotel staff, hospital staff, nursing staff or thelike.

In one embodiment the controller may determine the time span duringwhich the beverage has been in the beverage container, and output asignal depending on the time span, during which the beverage has been inthe beverage container. Also in this embodiment the outputted signal maybe an audio signal outputted by a loudspeaker and/or a messagetransmitted by the transmitter to an electronic device associated toservice staff. Thereby, the service staff and/or the user can beinformed that the beverage in the beverage container has to be replaced.

The controller may be adapted to determine the amount of beverage theuser has drunken in a pre-defined time span and to control the lightemitter depending on the amount of beverage the user has drunken in thepredefined time span. Thereby, the user can be requested to drinkbeverage until the predefined amount of beverage has been drunken by theuser. The controller can also be adapted to determine the amount ofbeverage the user has drunken in a predefined time span and to output asignal depending on the amount of beverage the user has drunken in apredefined time span. The outputted signal can be an audio signaloutputted by a loudspeaker and/or a message transmitted by thetransmitter. The message may be transmitted to an electronic deviceassociated to the service staff mentioned before, particularly hospitalstaff or other nursing staff to enable the staff to monitor thehydration of a patient and prevent dehydration.

In one embodiment the controller may be adapted to transmit the messageindicating the amount of beverage the user has drunken in a predefinedtime span after receipt of a message by the receiver. The receivedmessage may be a message received from an electronic device associatedto service staff and/or nursing staff that monitors the waterconsumption of a patient.

The beverage vessel may comprise a first temperature sensor adapted tomeasure the temperature of the beverage in the beverage container. Thefirst temperature sensor may be arranged at the bottom of the beveragecontainer. The beverage vessel may further comprise a fill level sensoradapted to measure the fill level of the beverage in the beveragecontainer. In one embodiment the fill level sensor may be a capacitivesensor formed by a transparent layer around the beverage container. Thebeverage vessel may have a transmitter for transmitting information anda receiver for receiving information. The transmitter and the receivermay implement any near field communication protocol or any otherprotocol such as RFID, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or the like.

The light emitter may be implemented by a light emitting diode, a laserdiode or the like. The beverage vessel may also comprise a controlleradapted to control the first temperature sensor, the fill level sensor,the transmitter, the receiver and/or the light emitter.

In one embodiment the controller may be adapted to determine thetemperature of the beverage in the beverage container and to control thelight emitter depending on the temperature of the beverage in thebeverage container. Thereby, the user may be informed, if thetemperature of the beverage in the beverage container exceeds apredetermined threshold.

In one embodiment the controller may determine the fill level of thebeverage in the beverage container and to control the light emitterdepending on the fill level of the beverage in the beverage container.Thereby, the user of the beverage vessel or a service staff, such asrestaurants staff, hotel staff, nursing staff or the like, may beinformed that the beverage vessel has to be refilled.

In one embodiment the controller may determine the time span, duringwhich the beverage has been in the beverage container. The controllermay control the light emitter depending on the time span during whichthe beverage is in the beverage container. Thereby, the user and/or aservice staff are informed that the beverage in the beverage containerhas to be replaced.

The controller may also be adapted to receive information about theingredients of the beverage in the beverage container and to control thelight emitter depending on the ingredients of the beverage in thebeverage container. The term ingredients of the beverage also includesthe type of beverage. Thereby, the user and the service staff areinformed which type of beverage is in the beverage vessel and the usercan drink his preferred beverage and the service staff can refill thebeverage vessel with the appropriate beverage. The information about theingredients of the beverage may be transmitted by a beverage dispenser.

The controller may be adapted to determine the temperature of thebeverage in the beverage container and to output a signal depending onthe temperature of the beverage in the beverage container. The outputtedsignal may be an audio signal outputted by a loudspeaker and/or amessage transmitted by the transmitter. By the message transmitted bythe transmitter service staff, such as restaurants staff, hotel staff,hospital staff or the like can be informed that the beverage in thebeverage vessel has to be replaced.

In one embodiment the controller can determine the fill level of thebeverage in the beverage container and can output a signal depending onthe fill level of the beverage in the vessel. Also in this embodiment,the signal may be an audio signal and/or a message transmitted by thetransmitter to an electronic device associated to service staff, such asrestaurants staff, hotel staff, hospital staff, nursing staff or thelike.

In one embodiment the controller may determine the time span duringwhich the beverage has been in the beverage container, and output asignal depending on the time span, during which the beverage has been inthe beverage container. Also in this embodiment the outputted signal maybe an audio signal output by a loudspeaker and/or a message transmittedby the transmitter to an electronic device associated to service staff.Thereby, the service staff and/or the user can be informed that thebeverage in the beverage container has to be replaced.

The controller may be adapted to determine the amount of beverage theuser has drunken in a pre-defined time span and to control the lightemitter depending on the amount of beverage the user has drunken in thepredefined time span. Thereby, the user can be requested to drinkbeverage until the predefined amount of beverage has been drunken by theuser. The controller can also be adapted to determine the amount ofbeverage the user has drunken in a predefined time span and to output asignal depending on the amount of beverage the user has drunken in apredefined time span. The output signal can be an audio signal output bya loudspeaker and/or a message transmitted by the transmitter. Themessage may be transmitted to an electronic device associated to theservice staff mentioned before, particularly hospital staff or othernursing staff to enable the staff to monitor the hydration of a patientand prevent dehydration.

In one embodiment the controller may be adapted to transmit the messageindicating the amount of beverage the user has drunken in a predefinedtime span after receipt of a message by the receiver. The receivedmessage may be a message received from an electronic device associatedto service staff and/or nursing staff that monitors the waterconsumption of a patient.

In one embodiment the beverage vessel may comprise a humidity sensoradapted to determine the humidity in the environment of the beveragevessel. Additionally or alternatively, the beverage vessel may comprisea second temperature sensor adapted to determine the temperature of theenvironment of the beverage vessel.

The vessel controller may be adapted to transmit by the transmitter ofthe portable beverage vessel a message representing at least onetemperature value temperature value determined by the second temperaturesensor. Additionally or alternatively, the vessel controller may beadapted to transmit by the transmitter of the portable beverage vessel amessage representing at least one humidity value determined by thehumidity sensor.

The invention also discloses a method of monitoring a beverageconsumption and/or a consumption of minerals in the beverage of a userof a beverage vessel. The beverage vessel can be the beverage vesseldisclosed above.

The method determines the physical activity of a user. The methoddetermines the amount of beverage to be supplied to the user of thebeverage vessel. Further, the method determines the type of minerals tobe supplied to the user by the beverage vessel. The method alsodetermines the amount of minerals to be supplied to the user of thebeverage vessel. The method determines the amount of beverage, the typeof minerals and the amount of minerals drunken by the user of thebeverage vessel. Further, the method determines the amount of beverageto be drunken by the user of the beverage vessel based on the amount ofbeverage to be supplied to the user and the amount of beverage drunkenby the user. The method may determine the type of minerals to be drunkenby the user of the beverage vessel based on the type of minerals to besupplied to the user and the type of minerals drunken by the user.Further, the method determines the amount of minerals to be drunken bythe user of the beverage vessel based on the amount of minerals to besupplied to the user and the amount of minerals drunken by the user. Themethod indicates to the user of the beverage vessel and the user of theuser device the amount of beverage to be drunk. Further, the method mayindicate to the user of the beverage vessel and the user of the userdevice the type of minerals to be drunk. The method further indicates tothe user of the beverage vessel and the user of user device the amountof minerals to be drunk. Thereby, the method ensures that the userdrinks the type of minerals and the amount of minerals that correspondto the physical activity of the user. It is to be understood that themethod may also determine the amount and type of minerals that areconsumed by the user by food and to adapt the type and/or the amount ofminerals to be drunken by the user.

In one embodiment the steps of determining the physical activity of auser, the step of determining the amount of beverage to be supplied tothe user of the beverage vessel, the step of determining the type ofminerals to be supplied to the user of the beverage vessel and the stepof determining the amount of minerals to be supplied to the user of thebeverage vessel may be executed by a user device. A user device may be apersonal electronic device, such as a smart phone, a smart watch, atablet computer, a wearable computer or the like. In one embodiment thestep of determining the amount of beverage, the type of minerals and theamount of minerals drunken by the user of the beverage vessel isexecuted by the beverage vessel. The smart beverage vessel can cooperatewith software running on the personal device, such as an app.

The step of indicating to the user of the beverage vessel and/or theuser of the user device the type of minerals to be drunken, and the stepof indicating the amount of minerals to be drunken to the user of thebeverage vessel and the user of the user device the amount of mineralsto be drunken can be executed by a beverage dispenser adapted to fillthe beverage vessel. In this embodiment the user can select on an inputdevice of the beverage dispenser whether he agrees to drink thesuggested type and amount of minerals. The beverage having the suggestedtype and amount of minerals can be automatically filled into thebeverage vessel after the user has confirmed the suggestion displayed bythe beverage dispenser.

In another embodiment the step of indicating to the user of the beveragevessel and/or the user of the user device the type of minerals to bedrunken, and the step of indicating to the user of the beverage vesseland/or the user of the user device the amount of minerals to be drunkencan be executed alternatively or additionally on the user device. Theproposed selection of beverage having the proposed type and amount ofminerals is displayed on the user device.

In another embodiment the step of indicating to the user of the beveragevessel and/or the user of the user device the type of minerals to bedrunken, and the step of indicating to the user of the beverage vesseland/or the user of the user device the amount of minerals to be drunkencan be executed by the beverage vessel. The proposed beverage having theproposed type of minerals and the proposed amount of minerals can bedisplayed on the display of the beverage vessel.

The method further comprises the steps of identifying the user, whointends to refill the beverage vessel with the beverage dispenser. Thestep of identifying the user may comprise the step of communicatingbetween the beverage dispenser and the user device. Alternatively oradditionally the step of identifying the user may comprise the step ofcommunicating with the beverage dispenser and the beverage vessel.

The method may further comprise the step of proposing the user the typeof minerals and amount of minerals. The step of proposing the user thetype of minerals and amount of minerals may comprise the step ofdisplaying on the beverage dispenser the proposed minerals and amount ofminerals and/or displaying on the user device the proposed minerals andamount of minerals and/or displaying on the display of the beveragevessel the proposed minerals and amount of minerals.

The step of proposing the user the type of minerals and the amount ofminerals may include the step of displaying a symbol indicating the typeof minerals and amount of minerals in the beverage. The symbols maycomprise text or a graphical symbol relating to a type of mineral waterthat comprises the proposed type of mineral and amount of minerals.

The method may comprise the steps of monitoring the temperature of theair around the portable beverage vessel and estimating the temperatureof the beverage in the beverage vessel based on the temperature of theair around the portable beverage vessel.

The method may comprise the steps of monitoring the temperature of theair around the portable beverage vessel and determining the demand of auser for beverage and/or minerals based on the temperature of the airaround the portable beverage vessel.

The method may comprise the steps of monitoring the humidity of the airaround the portable beverage vessel and determining the demand of a userfor beverage and/or minerals based on the humidity of the air around theportable beverage vessel. In one embodiment the method may determine thedemand of the user for beverage and/or for minerals based on combiningthe temperature of the air around the portable beverage vesseldetermined by the beverage vessel and/or the humidity of the air aroundthe portable beverage vessel determined by the beverage vessel.

In one embodiment the method may transmit the temperature of the airaround the portable beverage vessel and/or the humidity of the airaround the portable beverage vessel to the beverage dispenser and/ormonitoring unit. Based on the transmitted temperature of the air aroundthe portable beverage vessel and/or humidity of the air around theportable beverage vessel, the beverage dispenser and/or the monitoringunit can determine the amount of beverage and/or amount and type ofminerals the user has to drink.

The invention also discloses a beverage dispenser adapted to dispense abeverage into a beverage vessel. The beverage vessel may be the beveragevessel described above. The beverage dispenser comprises a communicationdevice, a controller and a display device. The communication device isadapted to communicate with the beverage vessel and/or a user deviceassociated to a user of the beverage vessel. The controller is adaptedto receive and/or determine data about a type of mineral and an amountof minerals to be drunken by the user. The display device is adapted todisplay a proposed type of minerals and a proposed amount of minerals tothe user. If the user confirms the proposed types of minerals and theproposed amount of minerals, the beverage vessel is filled with abeverage, such as mineral water, that comprises the proposed type ofminerals and the proposed amount of minerals. The mineral water may befiltered demineralized water that has been remineralized by mineralsolutions stored in a plurality of solution tanks. The water dispensermay transmit the types of minerals, amount of minerals and/or amount ofthe beverage filled into the beverage vessel to the user device and/orbeverage vessel.

The beverage dispenser and its components may be configured to executethe method disclosed above.

The invention also discloses a set comprising the above dispenserdescribed above.

The invention also discloses a computer program product that is adaptedto execute the steps of the method disclosed above, if loaded into acomputer comprising a processor and a memory.

These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunctionwith the following drawings. As would be obvious to one skilled in theart, many variations and modifications of the invention may be effectedwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of thedisclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is now described in further detail with referenceto the accompanying drawings showing preferred and non-limitingembodiments of the invention, wherein

FIG. 1 shows a front view of a smart carafe;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the top of the smart carafe and aclosure element;

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the smart carafe and the closureelement;

FIG. 4 shows a top view of the smart carafe and the closure element;

FIGS. 5 and 6 show prospective views of the closure element;

FIG. 7 shows the operation of the smart carafe with a water dispenser;and

FIG. 8 shows a further operation scenario of the inventive smart carafe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A preferred embodiment of the invention is now described in detail.Referring to the drawings, like numbers indicate like parts throughoutthe views. Unless otherwise specifically indicated in the disclosurethat follows, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Thepresent disclosure should in no way be limited to the exemplaryimplementations and techniques illustrated in the drawings and describedbelow. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims, thefollowing terms take the meanings explicitly associated herein, unlessthe context clearly dictates otherwise: the meaning of “a,” “an,” and“the” includes plural reference, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and“on.”

The smart carafe 600 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 is an embodiment of thebeverage vessel according to the present invention.

The smart carafe 600 according to the present invention comprises abeverage container 602, a closure element 606 and an optional controller604.

With reference to FIG. 3 the shape of the upper portion of the beveragecontainer is explained. The beverage container comprises an upperopening 601, in which the closure element 606 can be releasablypositioned. The beverage container 602 comprises a concave portion 664forming a recess directed to the longitudinal axis of the beveragecontainer 602 and smart carafe 600, respectively. The concave portion664 may extend in circumferential direction around the beveragecontainer 602. The concave portion 664 also forms a protuberanceextending around the exterior surface of the beverage container 602. Theprotuberance of the outer surface of the vessel container 602 formed bythe concave portion 664 extends away from the longitudinal axis of thebeverage container 602 and smart carafe 600, respectively.

The beverage container 600 comprises an outward tapered portion at theopening 601. Below the outward tapered portion 660 a first convexportion 662 is arranged extending further inward in the direction of thelongitudinal axis of the beverage vessel as the neighboring concaveportion 664. Below the concave portion 664 a second convex portion 666is arranged, wherein the second convex portion 666 extends further inthe direction of the longitudinal axis of the beverage vessel as thefirst convex portion 662.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 and particularly with reference to FIGS.2, 3, 5 and 6 details of the closure element 606 are described. Theclosure element comprises a locking mechanism having four locking arm612, 614, 616 and 618. In each locking arm 612, 614, 616, 618 a contactelement 622, 624, 626, 628 is located. The contact element 622, 624,626, 628 can move in the radial direction of the beverage container 602within the respective locking arms 612, 614, 616, 618, in which thecontact element is located. In one embodiment the contact element 622,624, 626, 628 is partially accommodated by the respective locking arm612, 614, 606, 618. Essentially each locking arm 612, 614, 616, 618 maycomprise a recess in which the respective contact element 622, 624, 626,628 is located. Within the recess an elastic element 691, 692, such as aspring may be located pressing the contact element 622, 626 in theradial outward direction.

Particularly, when the closure element 606 is positioned in the beveragecontainer as is shown in FIG. 3, the contact elements 622, 626 areguided by a recess in the locking arms 612, 616 and biased by theelastic elements in the radially outward direction, such that theradially outward portion of the contact elements 622, 626 engages in theconcave portion 664 of the beverage container 602. Thereby, the closureelement 606 is held firmly by the concave portion 664 and the contactelement.

At the radially outer portion of the contact elements 622, 624, 626, 628a sphere 623, 625, 627 is arranged. The sphere 623, 625, 627 may berotatably accommodated within the contact element 612, 614, 616, 618.

FIG. 3 shows the closure element 606 and the locking mechanism formed bythe locking arms 612, 614, 616, 618 in its locked position. The closureelement 606 further comprises an actuation element 609 forming also agrip element. A user can touch the actuation element 609 in order tomove the closure element 606 into the opening 601 of the beveragecontainer or to remove the closure element 606 from the opening 601 ofthe beverage container 606.

For removing the closure element 606 from the opening 601 of thebeverage container 602, the user has to shift the actuation element 609vertically upward. At the actuation element 609 first profile elements609 a are arranged. The first profile elements 609 a engage with secondprofile elements 609 b that are connected with the elastic elements andbiasing the contact elements 622 and 626 into the locked position shownin FIG. 3. As soon as the user moves the actuation element 609 in thevertically upward direction, the first profile element 609 a and thesecond profile element 609 b disengage. Consequently, the second profileelement 609 b is moved in the radially inward direction and consequentlythe elastic elements are moved radially inward. Hence, also the contactelements 622 and 626 including the spheres 623 and 627 are movedradially inward. Therefore, contact elements 622, 626 including thespheres 623, 627 disengage from the concave portion 664 and the user canremove the closure element 606 from the opening 601 of the beveragecontainer 602.

The closure element 606 comprises a lid 610 closing the opening 601,when the closure element 606 is engaged with the concave portion 664 bythe contact elements 622, 626. The lid 610 is held by rods 634, 636 and638 extending from the lower surface of the lid. The rods 634, 636, 638extend essentially in vertical direction from the lower surface of thelid 610.

The rods 634, 636, 638 extend through openings 635, 637, 639 in thelocking arms 612, 614, 616, 618. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to6 the openings 635, 637, 639 are formed as elongated holes or in anelliptical shape. On the first side of the rods 634, 636, 638 the lid610 is arranged. On the second side of the rods 634, 636, 638 oppositeto the first side an optional counter weight 632 is arranged. Thecounterweight 632 may act as a stop means 632 that is mounted to atleast one of the rods 634, 636, 638 at a position opposite to the lidand restricts the pivoting angle range of the lid 610.

When the user rotates the smart carafe 600 around the horizontal axis,the lid 610 is held in a horizontal position, since the rods 634, 636,638 are moveably arranged in the opening 635, 637, 639. The counterweight 632 additionally supports the horizontal position of the lid 610independent of the angle of the smart carafe 600 relative to thehorizontal axis.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3 a further aspect of the smart carafe 600according to the present invention is explained. The controller 604 canoutput a signal to a light emitter 670. Consequently, the light emitter670 outputs light rays 672 passing through beverage in the beveragecontainer 602. The light rays 672 pass a hollow portion 674 in theactuation element 609. The light rays 672 impinge on a lightdistribution element 608 that may also act as a grip portion. The lightemitter element 608 scatters the light rays 672 such that the impinginglight rays are directed to the periphery of the smart carafe 600 andvisible for a user. The light distributor element may have opaqueoptical properties, scattering optical properties and/or diffractingoptical properties for distributing the light around the smart carafe600.

The light emitter 670 may be the light emitting diode (LED), a laserdiode or the like. The light emitter may transmit light in a singlecolor or may emit light in a plurality of different colors e. g. by aplurality of light emitters. The light emitter may transmit continuouslight, flashing light or light periodically changing color fortransmitting information.

The controller 604 may comprise a rechargeable battery 680, a processor682, a fill level sensor 684 and a first temperature sensor 686. Thefill level sensor 684 can be a weight sensor determining the weight ofthe beverage container 602 and the beverage therein. The firsttemperature sensor 686 can determine the temperature of the beverage inthe beverage vessel 602. The processor 682 is coupled with the filllevel sensor 684, the first temperature sensor 686 and the light emitter670.

Reference is now made to FIG. 7 showing the operation of the beveragevessel (smart carafe) according to the present invention and a waterdispenser 300 according to the present invention. The water dispenser300 of the present invention comprises a communication device 304, acontroller 306 and a display device 308. The controller 306 controls thedisplay device 308, the communication device 304, a water generationdevice 310 and a valve 312. The water generation device 310 maymineralized prefiltered water or may be connected to a plurality oftanks in which different mineral waters are stored. The valve 312 isadapted to dispense a beverage via the tap 302 into the beverage vessel600.

A user device 404, such as a smart phone, is associated to a user 400and carried by the user. The smart phone 404 is coupled with a smartwatch 402. The smart phone 404 and/or the smart watch 402 monitor thephysical activity of the user, such as the number of steps. Further, thesmart phone 404 and/or the smart watch 402 can monitor the heartfrequency. Based on the physical activity a software (app) running onthe smart phone 404 and/or on the smart watch 402 can calculate theamount of fluid, type of minerals and/or amount of minerals that have tobe supplied to the user 400. The user may also enter food consumed intothe software running on the smart phone 404 such that software cancalculate the amount of beverage, minerals and/or type of minerals thathave to be supplied to the user also based on the food consumed.

The fill level sensor 684 can determine how much beverage the user 400has drunken. The water dispenser 300 can transmit to the controller 682and/or to the user device 404 the type of minerals and amount ofminerals dispensed by the water dispenser 300 into the smart beveragevessel. The controller 682 can transmit the amount of drunken beverage,type of drunken minerals and amount of minerals to the user device 404and/or beverage dispenser 300 by the transceiver 688.

Accordingly, the software running on the mobile phone 404 can calculatethe amount of beverage and/or type of minerals and/or amount of mineralsthat have to be drunken by the user 400. Such calculation can be basedon the amount of beverage, type of minerals and/or amount of mineralsthat have to be supplied to the user 400 as well as the amount ofbeverage, type of minerals and/or amount of minerals that have beenconsumed by the user 400 from the beverage vessel 600 as well as theamount of liquid, type of minerals and/or amount of minerals that havebeen eaten by the user 400 as entered by the user 400 into the softwarerunning on the mobile phone 404. The beverage dispenser 300 transmitsthe types of minerals and the amounts of minerals in the beverage filledinto the beverage vessel to the transceiver 688 of the beverage vessel600 and the controller 682 of the beverage vessel 600 stores values ofthe types of minerals and the amounts of minerals in a memory. Thereby,the controller 682 of the beverage vessel 600 can determine the typesand amounts of minerals drunken by the user based on the amount ofbeverage drunken by the user as determined by a fill level sensor 684.

The software running on the mobile phone 404 and/or the controller 306of the beverage dispenser may calculate the amount of beverage, type ofminerals and/or amount of minerals that have to be drunken by the user.The controller 306 of the water dispenser 300 may indicate a recommendedbeverage, such as a recommended type of mineral water on the display 308of the beverage dispenser. The recommended mineral water may comprisethe type of minerals and the amount of minerals that correspond as faras possible to the recommended type of minerals and/or amount ofminerals to be drunken by the user. The user can confirm on the touchsensitive display 308 the proposed type of mineral water and thereafter,the controller 306 controls the water generation unit 310 and the valve312 such that the recommended mineral water is supplied via the tap intothe beverage vessel 600.

It is to be understood that the beverage dispenser can cooperate with aplurality of users 400 and beverage vessels 600. The controller 306 mayhave means for identifying a user 400 by its mobile phone 404 and/or byits beverage vessel 600. For identifying the mobile phone 404 and/or thebeverage vessel 600, a wireless communication protocol such as RFID,Bluetooth, Wi Fi or the like may be used.

The beverage vessel 400 may also monitor the quality of the beverage inthe beverage container 602 by the first temperature sensor 686. Thetemperature of the water may be measured by the first temperature sensor686. Further, the controller 682 may determine the time span duringwhich the water has been in the beverage vessel 102. If the temperatureand/or the time span during which the water is in the beverage vesselexceeds a predetermined time span, a warning for a user is generated,such as by a message displayed on the mobile phone 404 and/or on thesmart watch 402 and/or on the display 114 of the beverage vessel. Theinventive method may also determine, whether the user of the beveragevessel 600 has to drink liquid, such as water. The inventive method maydisplay a message on the smart phone 404, the smart watch 402 and/or thebeverage vessel 600, if the inventive method determines that the userhas to drink additional liquid. The inventive method may also determinebased on the physical activity of the user 400 that the user 400 has todrink additional minerals. If the inventive method determines that theuser has to drink additional minerals, a message and/or light signal maybe displayed by the mobile phone, the smart watch 402 and/or the smartbeverage vessel 600. The message may also include the recommended typeof minerals, amount of minerals and/or the recommended beverage, such asthe recommended type of mineral water.

It is an advantage of the present invention that quality of a beveragein a beverage vessel may be monitored. Further, a user can be providedwith tailored beverages comprising the type of minerals and amount ofminerals that are actually needed by the body of the user.

With reference to FIG. 8 operation of the inventive beverage vessel 600is described. If the controller 682 determines by using the firsttemperature sensor 686 that the temperature of the beverage 671 exceedsa predetermined threshold, an audio signal can be outputted by theloudspeaker 560. Alternatively or additionally, the controller 682 mayactivate the light emitter 670 to emit light that passes through thebeverage 671, the interior of the beverage container 602 and the lightguide 686 to the partial sphere 608 of the actuation element 609.Alternatively or additionally the controller 682 may transmit a messageby a transceiver 688 to an electronic device 702 associated to servicestaff, such as hotel staff, restaurants staff, hospital staff, nursingstaff or the like in a service room 700. The message may be displayed onthe display to 704 connected to the electronic device.

As soon as the partial sphere 608 emits light, or a message is displayedby the electronic device 602, the service staff is notified that thewater in the beverage vessel 600 has to be substituted.

In one embodiment the controller 682 may monitor the fill level of thebeverage 671 the beverage vessel 600. If the fill level of the beverage671 is lower than a predetermined threshold, the controller may outputan audio signal by the loudspeaker 560. Alternatively or additionallythe controller 682 can output an optical signal by the light emitter670, which passes through the beverage 671, the interior of the beveragecontainer 602, the light guide 686 to the partial sphere 608 of theactuating element 609. Alternatively or additionally the controller cantransmit a message by the transceiver 688 to the electronic deviceassociated to the service staff mentioned before. By the light emittedby the partial sphere 608 and/or the message received by the electronicdevice 602, the service staff is informed that the beverage in thebeverage vessel 600 has to be replaced.

In another embodiment the controller 682 may be adapted to emit light670 depending on the type of beverage and/or the type and/or the amountof minerals in water, such as mineral water, remineralized water or thelike. The light emitter 670 may comprise a plurality of light emittingdiodes or laser diodes each having a different color. The color of thelight emitted by the light emitter may change depending on the signal tobe displayed, such as temperature of the beverage 671, fill level of thebeverage 671, the type of beverage 671 and/or the time span, duringwhich the beverage was in the beverage vessel 600. The type of beverage671 and/or the type of minerals and/or the amount of minerals that hasbeen filled into the beverage vessel 600 is transmitted by the beveragedispenser 400 via the transceiver 688 to the controller 682 and storedin a memory.

The controller 682 may be requested by the electronic device 602associated to a service staff to transmit data about the beverageconsumption of the user of the beverage vessel 600. The controller 682may transmit in response to such request or based on another event, suchas lapse of a predetermined time span, the amount of beverage, the userhad been drinking from the beverage vessel 600 to the electronic device602 using the transceiver 688. The controller 682 is also adapted totransmit light by the transceiver 670 to be displayed on the partialsphere 608, if the user has to drink additional amount of liquid.

All components of the closure element 606 may be produced by steel suchas stainless steel. The beverage container 602 may be produced fromglass. Both stainless steel and glass are chemical inert materials.Thereby, germ formation can be suppressed.

It is an advantage of the present invention that information may bedisplayed by beverage vessel in a manner that does not jeopardize thedesign of the beverage vessel. Further, the closure element is designedsuch that touching the closure element at surfaces that are in contactwith beverage by the user may be avoided.

Although specific advantages have been enumerated above, variousembodiments may include some, none, or all of the enumerated advantages.Other technical advantages may become readily apparent to one ofordinary skill in the art after review of the following figures anddescription. It is understood that, although exemplary embodiments areillustrated in the figures and described below, the principles of thepresent disclosure may be implemented using any number of techniques,whether currently known or not. Modifications, additions, or omissionsmay be made to the systems, apparatuses, and methods described hereinwithout departing from the scope of the invention. The components of thesystems and apparatuses may be integrated or separated. The operationsof the systems and apparatuses disclosed herein may be performed bymore, fewer, or other components and the methods described may includemore, fewer, or other steps. Additionally, steps may be performed in anysuitable order. As used in this document, “each” refers to each memberof a set or each member of a subset of a set. It is intended that theclaims and claim elements recited below do not invoke 35 U.S.C. 112(f)unless the words “means for” or “step for” are explicitly used in theparticular claim. The above described embodiments, while including thepreferred embodiment and the best mode of the invention known to theinventor at the time of filing, are given as illustrative examples only.It will be readily appreciated that many deviations may be made from thespecific embodiments disclosed in this specification without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope ofthe invention is to be determined by the claims below rather than beinglimited to the specifically described embodiments above.

What is claimed is:
 1. A beverage vessel, comprising: a beveragecontainer, in which a beverage may be stored, wherein said beveragecontainer has an upper opening through which beverage may be poured inand poured out of the beverage container and a wall extending from theopening to the bottom of the beverage container, wherein the beveragecontainer comprises at least one concave portion in the wall, whereinthe concave portion forms a recess directed to the middle axis of thebeverage container; and a closure element adapted to be positioned inthe upper opening of the beverage container; wherein said closureelement comprises a locking mechanism, said locking mechanism comprisingat least three locking arms extending in radial direction of thebeverage vessel to the beverage container, an actuation element moveablemounted on the closure element, wherein the actuation element can bemoved in a first position in which the locking arms are movable in thehorizontal direction and in a second position in which the locking armsare not movable; and wherein said locking arms releasably engage in theconcave portion in the wall for releasably locking the closure elementto the beverage container.
 2. A beverage vessel, comprising: a beveragecontainer, in which a beverage may be stored, wherein said beveragecontainer has an upper opening through which beverage may be poured inand poured out of the beverage container and a wall extending from theopening to the bottom of the beverage container, wherein the beveragecontainer comprises at least one concave portion in the wall, whereinthe concave portion forms a recess directed to the middle axis of thebeverage container; and a closure element adapted to be positioned inthe upper opening of the beverage container; wherein said closureelement comprises a locking mechanism, said locking mechanism comprisingat least three locking arms extending in radial direction of thebeverage vessel to the beverage container, wherein at least one arm ofthe locking element comprises an elastic portion being elastic in theradial direction of the beverage vessel; and wherein said locking armsreleasably engage in the concave portion in the wall for releasablylocking the closure element to the beverage container, wherein theclosure element comprises an actuation element moveable mounted on theclosure element, wherein the actuation element can be moved in a firstposition in which the locking arms are movable in the horizontaldirection and in a second position in which the locking arms are notmovable.
 3. The beverage vessel according to claim 1, wherein at leastone arm of the locking element comprises an elastic portion beingelastic in the radial direction of the beverage vessel.
 4. The beveragevessel according to claim 2, wherein the concave portion extends in thecircumferential direction along the wall of the beverage container. 5.The beverage vessel according to claim 2, wherein the locking armcomprises at the radially outer portion a contact element elasticallyaccommodated by the locking arm, wherein the contact element comprises around shape at the radially outer portion.
 6. The beverage vesselaccording to claim 2, wherein the closure element comprises a gripelement extending from the closure element in the vertical direction ofthe beverage vessel.
 7. The beverage vessel according to claim 2,further comprising a light distribution element arranged at the closureelement; and a light emitter positioned such that the light emitted bythe light emitter passes at least a part of the volume of the beveragecontainer before entering the light distribution element; wherein thelight distribution element is adapted to distribute the light enteringfor the light emitter in the periphery of the beverage vessel.
 8. Thebeverage vessel according to claim 7, wherein the light distributionelement is arranged at the grip element and/or actuation element; andthe light emitter is positioned at the bottom of the beverage container.9. A beverage vessel, comprising: a beverage container, in which abeverage may be stored, wherein said beverage container has an upperopening through which beverage may be poured in and poured out of thebeverage container and a wall extending from the opening to the bottomof the beverage container, wherein the beverage container comprises atleast one concave portion in the wall, wherein the concave portion formsa recess directed to the middle axis of the beverage container; and aclosure element adapted to be positioned in the upper opening of thebeverage container; wherein said closure element comprises a lockingmechanism, said locking mechanism comprising at least three locking armsextending in radial direction of the beverage vessel to the beveragecontainer, wherein at least one arm of the locking element comprises anelastic portion being elastic in the radial direction of the beveragevessel; and wherein said locking arms releasably engage in the concaveportion in the wall for releasably locking the closure element to thebeverage container, and further comprising: a light distribution elementarranged at the closure element; and a light emitter positioned suchthat the light emitted by the light emitter passes at least a part ofthe volume of the beverage container before entering the lightdistribution element; wherein the light distribution element is adaptedto distribute the light entering for the light emitter in the peripheryof the beverage vessel, wherein the light distribution element is atleast a partial sphere positioned at the top of the actuation element.10. The beverage vessel according to claim 9, further comprising a lid,positioned under the grip element and above the locking mechanism,wherein the lid is movably mounted to the locking mechanism.
 11. Thebeverage vessel according to claim 10, wherein the lid is pivotallymounted to the locking mechanism.
 12. The beverage vessel according toclaim 10, wherein the lid is mounted to the locking mechanism by atleast one rods extending through an opening in a locking arm.
 13. Thebeverage vessel according to claim 10, further comprising a stop meansthat is mounted to at least one of the rods at a position opposite tothe lid and restricts the pivoting angle range of the lid.
 14. Thebeverage vessel according to claim 10, further comprising acounterweight that is mounted to at least one of the rods a positionopposite to the lid.
 15. The beverage vessel according to claim 9,wherein the closure element further comprising a light conductingsection that can be formed by at least one of the following: a hollowportion extending vertically in the grip element; a light guideextending vertically in the grip element.
 16. The beverage vesselaccording to claim 1, wherein the concave portion extends in thecircumferential direction along the wall of the beverage container. 17.The beverage vessel according to claim 1, wherein the locking armcomprises at the radially outer portion a contact element elasticallyaccommodated by the locking arm, wherein the contact element comprises around shape at the radially outer portion.
 18. The beverage vesselaccording to claim 1, wherein the closure element comprises a gripelement extending from the closure element in the vertical direction ofthe beverage vessel.
 19. The beverage vessel according to claims 1,further comprising a lid, positioned under the grip element and abovethe locking mechanism, wherein the lid is movably mounted to the lockingmechanism.
 20. The beverage vessel according to claim 19, wherein thelid is pivotally mounted to the locking mechanism.
 21. The beveragevessel according to claim 19, wherein the lid is mounted to the lockingmechanism by at least one rods extending through an opening in a lockingarm.
 22. The beverage vessel according to claim 19, further comprising astop means that is mounted to at least one of the rods at a positionopposite to the lid and restricts the pivoting angle range of the lid.23. The beverage vessel according to claim 19, further comprising acounterweight that is mounted to at least one of the rods a positionopposite to the lid.